 clickable | | God's Little Gifts There is no closer bond than the one which gratefulness celebrates: the bond between giver and thanksgiver. Everything is a gift. Grateful living is a celebration of the universal give-and-take of life, a limitless "yes" to belonging. Can our world survive without it? Whatever the answer, one thing is certain: To say an unconditional "yes" to the mutual belonging of all beings will make this a more joyful world. This is the reason why Yes is my favorite synonym for God. —from the book The Way of Silence by Brother David Steindl-Rast |  clickable: The Following is from MorningOffering | †Saint Quote
"Dismiss all anger and look into yourself a little. Remember that he of whom you are speaking is your brother, and as he is in the way of salvation, God can make him a saint, in spite of his present weakness."
— St. Thomas of Villanova † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"All creatures that exist are in the hands of God. The action of the creature can only be perceived by the senses, but faith sees in all things the action of the Creator. It believes that in Jesus Christ all things live, and that His divine operation continues to the end of time, embracing the passing moment and the smallest created atom in its hidden life and mysterious action."
— Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade, p.21
AN EXCERPT FROM
Abandonment to Divine Providence † VERSE OF THE DAY
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord."
Psalm 40: 1-3 |  click to read more | | Saint Julie Billiart (July 12, 1751 – April 8, 1816) Born in Cuvilly, France, into a family of well-to-do farmers, young Marie Rose Julie Billiart showed an early interest in religion and in helping the sick and poor. Though the first years of her life were relatively peaceful and uncomplicated, Julie had to take up manual work as a young teen when her family lost its money. However, she spent her spare time teaching catechism to young people and to the farm laborers. A mysterious illness overtook her when she was about 30. Witnessing an attempt to wound or even kill her father, Julie was paralyzed and became a complete invalid. For the next two decades, she continued to teach catechism lessons from her bed, offered spiritual advice, and attracted visitors who had heard of her holiness. When the French Revolution broke out in 1789, revolutionary forces became aware of her allegiance to fugitive priests. With the help of friends, she was smuggled out of Cuvilly in a haycart. She then spent several years hiding in Compiegne, being moved from house to house despite her growing physical pain. She even lost the power of speech for a time. But this period also proved to be a fruitful spiritual time for Julie. It was at this time she had a vision in which she saw Calvary surrounded by women in religious habits and heard a voice saying, "Behold these spiritual daughters whom I give you in an institute marked by the cross." As time passed and Julie continued her mobile life, she made the acquaintance of an aristocratic woman, Françoise Blin de Bourdon, who shared Julie's interest in teaching the faith. In 1803, the two women began the Institute of Notre Dame, which was dedicated to the education of the poor, young Christian girls, and the training of catechists. The following year, the first Sisters of Notre Dame made their vows. That was the same year that Julie recovered from the illness: She was able to walk for the first time in 22 years. Though Julie had always been attentive to the special needs of the poor and that always remained her priority, she also became aware that other classes in society needed Christian instruction. From the founding of the Sisters of Notre Dame until her death, Julie was on the road, opening a variety of schools in France and Belgium that served the poor and the wealthy, vocational groups, teachers. Ultimately, Julie and Françoise moved the motherhouse to Namur, Belgium. Julie died there in 1816. She was canonized in 1969.
Reflection Julie's immobility in no way impeded her activities. In spite of her suffering, she managed to co-found a teaching order that tended to the needs of both the poor and the well-to-do. Each of us has limitations, but the worst malady any of us can suffer is the spiritual paralysis that keeps us from doing God's work on earth. | Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent Reading 1 Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim,
who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna,
the daughter of Hilkiah;
her pious parents had trained their daughter
according to the law of Moses.
Joakim was very rich;
he had a garden near his house,
and the Jews had recourse to him often
because he was the most respected of them all. That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges,
of whom the Lord said, "Wickedness has come out of Babylon:
from the elders who were to govern the people as judges."
These men, to whom all brought their cases,
frequented the house of Joakim.
When the people left at noon,
Susanna used to enter her husband's garden for a walk.
When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk,
they began to lust for her.
They suppressed their consciences;
they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven,
and did not keep in mind just judgments. One day, while they were waiting for the right moment,
she entered the garden as usual, with two maids only.
She decided to bathe, for the weather was warm.
Nobody else was there except the two elders,
who had hidden themselves and were watching her.
"Bring me oil and soap," she said to the maids,
"and shut the garden doors while I bathe." As soon as the maids had left,
the two old men got up and hurried to her.
"Look," they said, "the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us;
give in to our desire, and lie with us.
If you refuse, we will testify against you
that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you." "I am completely trapped," Susanna groaned.
"If I yield, it will be my death;
if I refuse, I cannot escape your power.
Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt
than to sin before the Lord."
Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her,
as one of them ran to open the garden doors.
When the people in the house heard the cries from the garden,
they rushed in by the side gate to see what had happened to her.
At the accusations by the old men,
the servants felt very much ashamed,
for never had any such thing been said about Susanna. When the people came to her husband Joakim the next day,
the two wicked elders also came,
fully determined to put Susanna to death.
Before all the people they ordered:
"Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah,
the wife of Joakim."
When she was sent for,
she came with her parents, children and all her relatives.
All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping. In the midst of the people the two elders rose up
and laid their hands on her head.
Through tears she looked up to heaven,
for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly.
The elders made this accusation:
"As we were walking in the garden alone,
this woman entered with two girls
and shut the doors of the garden, dismissing the girls.
A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her.
When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime,
we ran toward them.
We saw them lying together,
but the man we could not hold, because he was stronger than we;
he opened the doors and ran off.
Then we seized her and asked who the young man was,
but she refused to tell us.
We testify to this."
The assembly believed them,
since they were elders and judges of the people,
and they condemned her to death. But Susanna cried aloud:
"O eternal God, you know what is hidden
and are aware of all things before they come to be:
you know that they have testified falsely against me.
Here I am about to die,
though I have done none of the things
with which these wicked men have charged me." The Lord heard her prayer.
As she was being led to execution,
God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,
and he cried aloud:
"I will have no part in the death of this woman."
All the people turned and asked him, "What is this you are saying?"
He stood in their midst and continued,
"Are you such fools, O children of Israel!
To condemn a woman of Israel without examination
and without clear evidence?
Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her." Then all the people returned in haste.
To Daniel the elders said,
"Come, sit with us and inform us,
since God has given you the prestige of old age."
But he replied,
"Separate these two far from each other that I may examine them." After they were separated one from the other,
he called one of them and said:
"How you have grown evil with age!
Now have your past sins come to term:
passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent,
and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says,
'The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.'
Now, then, if you were a witness,
tell me under what tree you saw them together."
"Under a mastic tree," he answered.
Daniel replied, "Your fine lie has cost you your head,
for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him
and split you in two."
Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought.
Daniel said to him,
"Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you,
lust has subverted your conscience.
This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel,
and in their fear they yielded to you;
but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness.
Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together."
"Under an oak," he said.
Daniel replied, "Your fine lie has cost you also your head,
for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two
so as to make an end of you both." The whole assembly cried aloud,
blessing God who saves those who hope in him.
They rose up against the two elders,
for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury.
According to the law of Moses,
they inflicted on them
the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor:
they put them to death.
Thus was innocent blood spared that day. Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
R. (4ab) Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side. Verse Before the Gospel Ez 33:11 I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,
but rather in his conversion, that he may live. Gospel Jn 8:12-20 Jesus spoke to them again, saying,
"I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life."
So the Pharisees said to him,
"You testify on your own behalf,
so your testimony cannot be verified."
Jesus answered and said to them,
"Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified,
because I know where I came from and where I am going.
But you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone.
And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid,
because I am not alone,
but it is I and the Father who sent me.
Even in your law it is written
that the testimony of two men can be verified.
I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me."
So they said to him, "Where is your father?"
Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father.
If you knew me, you would know my Father also."
He spoke these words
while teaching in the treasury in the temple area.
But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
| Meditation: John 8:12-20
5th Week of Lent I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me. (John 8:18) When you're looking for a job, references are extremely important. They can mean the difference between employment and unemployment, or between a great job and a mediocre job. That's because employers want some evidence that you are a person of integrity and that you will perform well. They want to believe you, your résumé, and the face that you present to them. But they also want a little more certainty—and having someone else back you up is a very helpful way of ensuring that. In his discussions with the religious leaders of Israel, Jesus was doing something much more serious than applying for a job. He was claiming to be "the light of the world" (John 8:12). He had already told them that God was his Father, but they didn't believe him (5:18). To them he was a fraud and a threat to their authority. So they tried to trap him by demanding some proof of his claims. But Jesus was secure and confident, both in who he was and what he had been sent to do. At his baptism and his transfiguration, his Father had already testified on his behalf by calling him his "beloved Son" (Matthew 3:17; 17:5). So there were his two "references"—himself and God. For Jesus, that was all the evidence that mattered. We can find it difficult to feel confident at times, especially when we face some kind of opposition. We may question the decisions we make as we try to raise our children in a world that doesn't support our values. When we encounter people who don't believe in God or who challenge our faith, we may start to doubt ourselves. When the world outside doesn't affirm you, it's clear that your confidence has to come from inside. You need to remember who you are, just as Jesus did. And this is who you are: a child of God. Just as he did with Jesus at his baptism, God testifies on your behalf. He tells you, "You are my beloved son. You are my beloved daughter. You have great dignity in my eyes." This is the best "job reference" you could ever hope to have! So the next time you are doubting yourself, look in the mirror—and remember who you are. "Father, may I always remember that I am your beloved child." Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62
Psalm 23:1-6 |  clickable | When the couple receives Holy Communion, especially, they should pray, 'Lord, live Your spousal love for the Church over again in me. Help me to love my spouse like You love the Church. Love my spouse for me and with me, Lord. Only You, who are love itself, can empower and support my love for my spouse.'
—DEACON JAMES KEATING, PhD
from Spousal Prayer |  Click to see the Devotional Calendar | | 2cents:
" ...it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt
than to sin before the Lord."
This is a true love of God....to say "I'd rather die, than to sin before our Lord".
A true martyrdom starts in the heart, amen? | Let us pray: "He guides me in right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage." He guides those seeking Him. Sometimes through dark valleys, scary parts of our lives. It is to teach us trust. 40 days or 40 years of desert wanderings, of doing without...for a fulfillment to come that is promised. | Our Lord speaks: "I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life."
For the full week last week, our new Deacon was asking for prayer, because his sister was lost, nobody could find her and her daughter, and her husband had died when the daughter was about to be born. | We had adoration, and before the break of dawn, he was there praying, needless to say, I could sense in the air the prayers. Indeed, we were all praying all week. Yesterday, we got word that they were found in the desert mountains. A rancher found them...they were alive,dehydrated, but alive. Who had to trust through this whole ordeal? And what of this miracle? Everyone could now sigh in relief. Someone said this morning "...I wonder how they made it through the nights in the desert?" I bet faith was the only thing that kept them alive. Plus all our prayers! Scary. Trusting is scary. When does faith start taking over?
When you trust in God's light.
He calls Himself THE LIGHT.
You can't see it, but you know He is there.
I'm reminded of apparitions, one may see the vision, others may see but not hear, and others can not see nor hear anything at all, they can only trust.
Why is it like this?
This is how faith works. It calls on our hearts to see only with spiritual eyes.
The Pharisees became the blind judges. They lusted for power and honor and glory. They were trying to corner Jesus, the beautiful creation of God, His only Son our Lord.
This is the atrocity of sin. Throughout the 1st scripture, that's all I could see, was the sin. The sin that blinds us. The sin that keeps us from seeing God. The sin that leads to death.
What sin leads to death? All sin leads to a death.
Lent has called us to repent. To peel back our old selves and to come out anew like a butterfly from its cocoon this Easter.
God wants us to resurrect with Him.
To do so, we must choose Him rather than sin.... |  click to hear the bible verse | adrian Random Bible Verse1
Isaiah 61:1 (Listen) 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor; [1]
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. . . . [2] Thank You Jesus | |
